MizKelly

Luna Bars are really good!

I've told on myself and my doctor just talks to me and steers me back in the right direction. He knows we all do it and this is a life changing experience and we are going to make mistakes and he wants all his patients to do good and scolding them isn't going to help. We learn from our mistakes and try not to do them again!

I remember the first time I got stuck and thought I NEVER wanted to go through that again....well, after a year and a half of being banded I have had LOTS of stuck episodes! Sometimes walking helps or if you are having a lot of pain and just can't take it, throwing it back up helps. We all get stuck for different reasons.....Too big of a bite, ate too fast, didn't chew enough, ate something we shouldn't have like bread, Pasta or rice that tends to swell in our pouch. Sometimes you just need to let out a good burp and that will help with the stuck problem. We take in a lot of air and for us all that air has a very little place to go then we put food on top of it so it can cause air bubbles and then a traffic jam with our food and make us uncomfortable. The second you feel like you might be getting stuck STOP eating and get up and walk around and see if it helps, even if you are at a restaurant (walk to the bathroom). If you just can't take the pain throw it back up, if you need help doing that take a little sip of Water and that should help it come back up or sometimes it will help it go down. I have also heard to take a drink of pop because of the fizz but I stopped drinking all that stuff almost 3 years ago. Hope this helps.....

If I make my shakes I use EAS 100% Whey protein powder or I use Jay Robb flavored egg white powder. If I buy pre-made protein drinks I usually get RDT51 because it has 51grams of protein per can!! My favorite bar is the Luna Bar.

I've been banded a year and a half and still drink my Protein shakes. My pre-op diet was VERY strick 4 weeks 100% total liquids (and 2 weeks post liquids) so a total of SIX weeks to liquids so I was trying every protein drink/shake I could so I wouldn't get bored or burned out on them. One of our grocery stores (Meijers) sells several different brands of pre-made Protein drinks so I bought one of each flavor in every brand that was within my calorie limit and there was one that I really liked because it had 51 grams of protein in each can. It's called RTD51, I liked the creamy vanilla and the Peanut Butter cup. I also buy flavored egg white powder and make shakes with that. I've tired many of the protein powders and I like the 100% EAS whey powder. I will cut up a banana, 8 oz of skim milk, 1 scoop of Protein Powder and a tablespoon (or so) of peanut butter and ice and make my morning Protein shake. Everyone's taste are different so you just need to try each one and see what you like the best for you! Do you have a calorie limit or protein limit you need to stay with?

I own my own bakery business so I have a wide variety of flavors that I can add to my shakes but for someone that doesn't have access to a large variety like I do extracts are good to use and like 54Shirley said Lorann oils are good to use for flavors. You can find a pretty good variety and can usually find them at your local Hobby Lobby and some grocery stores carry them if they have a Wilton baking section. There is a really good book out called "Drink This, Not That" that has good recipes in it that you can also change to meet your (our) needs. I just picked up a smoothie book at TJMAXX for $3.00 that has some really good recipes that I customize with my protein powder!

Egg white powder is something else that is good to add to your shakes for extra Protein and flavor. I use Jay Robb and it comes in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. He also has whey powder and it comes in Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Pina Colada and Tropical Dreamsicle. You could always try adding imitation strawberry extract to your shake as it has no significant nutritional value. My addiction Protein Shake is 1% milk, 1 scoop EAS 100% Whey Protein Vanilla flavor, 1 banana and a scoop of White Chocolate Peanut Butter! Mmmmm

I go to Dr. Peter Mihalakakos in Joliet.....He is wonderful!!

I really think the fill is up to your doctor and what he feels is right for you. If things are going great for you and he is happy with things then he will make that choice with you. You have to remember everyone and their fills are different. What's right for one person may not be right for another. I had my first fill at my post op but my doctor is aggressive with fills and it worked for me. So just remember to listen to YOUR doctor, he knows what's best for YOU.

Calories and types of food are two different things. When you get the band you have to be willing to make some changes or why get it? I am not saying to deny yourself....I said I still have my favorites once in a while but this is a life change and I decided to change things in MY life.

I wasn't assuming anything! Yes, I understand the band doesn't work for everyone but referring to my best friend she hasn't followed any of the rules like she should. (You wouldn't know that) I am with her everyday so I see this first hand. The OP sounded like she wasn't willing to make changes, she was still wanting to eat her fatty foods and thought with the band she could still eat all of them but just eat half and still loose weight. You do need to make food changes with the band.

I have to ask how much education did you get before you got your band? My surgeon did the orientation meeting and went over all the pros and cons of the band and what he was going to expect of his patients. He went over how this was going to be a life change and if you weren't willing to make changes then you weren't ready to get banded. All his patients have to work with a dietitian/nutritionist for 6 months pre-surgery and continues to work with them after surgery. You have a strict 4 week 100% clear liquid pre-op and 2 week post-op diet to follow. During those 6 months with the dietitian I had to keep a food log and I would meet with her every two weeks and learn how to change my eating habits and omit soft drinks/sweet tea. The dietitian would explain to me what could/would happen if I ate certain foods and why I needed to make these changes. I also had to meet with a shrink and do a sleep study test. Yes, I love(d) to eat hamburgers, pizza, fried chicken, Pasta...etc...That's what got me so "fluffy" but I was tired of being fluffy and after years of yo yo dieting I knew I had to do something different and I wanted a better life for myself. I wasn't going to let my favorite foods control me anymore, it wasn't worth it. My best friend was banded (she had a different doctor) she was self pay (I was insurance) and she has not used her tool as she should. Her education was so different from mine. She only met with a dietitian once, her pre-op diet was only a week, no shrink, no sleep study. She drinks while she eats, she drinks sodas, and she pretty much eats what she did pre-band. She has stretch out her pouch and her excuse is her band did not work for her. Well it wasn't a quick fix for her so that is why it didn't work for her. She never did what she was supposed to do and when she sees her doctor she is not honest with him. I have tired to help her get back on track but she wont do it.....because "it doesn't work." It doesn't work because she still eats mac and cheese, bread, pizza, burgers...etc....EVERYDAY Today is my 1 year bandiversary and it is the best thing I ever did for myself. Has it been easy? No! Have I had episodes of getting stuck and throwing up? Yes! I do still allow myself a little fried chicken or pizza but only a few bites because that is all I can get down but it satisfies my craving. But I have also learned to cook new things that are yummy and now food is not all that important to me. My hubby and I still go out to eat, I just make different choices and take a lot of left overs home. I own my own bakery and I am around sweets and will have one from time to time and that's OK. The band is about making changes and you really have to want to make those changes and have a positive attitude or it's just not going to work for you. Find some support meetings and attend those, talk with your doctor and be honest with him. Don't think GB is the way to go just so you can eat your burgers again. With GB the stomach stretches and you can gain your weight back. The band is not for everyone and neither is the sleeve or GB, it's something you really have to want to do and make those life changes for yourself and when you are ready you will know. Good Luck to you in whatever you choose to do.